This refers to Nitin Pai's column "Don't leave diplomacy to diplomats" (The Asian Balance, January 20). The article seems to give the impression that India's existence depends on being subservient to the US. India is an independent country and it must take necessary actions to maintain its independent status. The US for long has been heaping insults on our diplomats. But this time things got worse when a lady, that too a diplomat, was subjected to a cavity search, and handcuffed. Does a crime, even a visa fraud, require such extreme treatment? Our diplomats acted correctly by lashing out at the US authorities. US diplomats have enjoyed higher privileges, but refuse to provide the same to Indian diplomats. Also, one would be surprised to know that the dedicated parking of Indian diplomats has been taken away in New York, and the US embassy had closed Nyaya Marg on its own, something that India ignored.
N V Singh New Delhi
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